Spring Festival Tips for Maintaining Urinary Health

Author: Chief Physician Yang Jian from the Urology Department, Hunan Province Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine Hospital (Affiliated Hospital of Hunan Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine). Special Contributor: Leng Fu. Reviewer: Hunan Medical Chat. Introduction: During the Spring Festival, long travel can cause urine retention, risking bladder health. Plan breaks, hydrate, and seek medical help if needed.

The Spring Festival travel rush has commenced, with a multitude of vehicles returning home and visiting friends and relatives, creating long lines on the highways. Prolonged traffic jams and being stuck in place have become common for many travelers. Faced with an endless stream of cars, many people opt to hold their bladder, believing that if they can just endure a bit longer, they can reach a service area.

Director Yang Jian, chief physician at the Department of Urology at Hunan Province Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine Hospital, emphasizes that while traffic jams are often unavoidable, health issues related to bladder function should never be overlooked. Holding in urine may seem trivial, but it can lead to serious harm to the urinary system.

What are the risks associated with holding in urine?

Under normal circumstances, when the bladder holds 200 to 300 milliliters of urine, a strong urge to urinate will arise, making timely urination essential for maintaining urinary health. However, during the Spring Festival travel rush, limited space and inconvenient conditions often lead to individuals withholding urine, which can pose risks far exceeding expectations.

1. Direct damage to bladder function: The bladder serves as an elastic "reservoir" for urine. Prolonged over-distension leads to continuous stretching of the bladder wall muscles, resulting in a gradual loss of elasticity. In the long run, this can cause weak urination, a sensation of incomplete emptying, frequent urges, and even decreased bladder contraction function. Once this damage occurs, full recovery can be difficult.

2. Inducing urinary tract infections and cystitis: Urine contains metabolic waste and bacteria, and normal urination helps to expel these bacteria from the body. When urine is held for an extended period, it remains stagnant in the bladder, allowing bacteria to multiply rapidly and potentially leading to infections such as urethritis and cystitis, which can cause symptoms like lower abdominal heaviness and urethral pain.

3. Significantly increased risk of urinary stones: During the Spring Festival travel rush, inadequate water intake combined with prolonged sitting and retaining urine can lead to highly concentrated urine. This concentration results in the crystallization and deposition of substances such as calcium, oxalic acid, and uric acid, increasing the likelihood of developing kidney stones, ureteral stones, and bladder stones.

4. Causes hydronephrosis and damages kidney function: If urine is retained for too long causing excessive bladder pressure, urine may flow back to the kidneys, resulting in hydronephrosis. Repeated instances over time can severely impair kidney function, which is a serious but often overlooked consequence.

How can one avoid holding in urine during Spring Festival travel by car and protect urinary health?

Traffic congestion is unavoidable, yet health risks can be mitigated. Keep these tips in mind to safeguard your health while traveling.

1. Before the trip: Take three steps to reduce the urge to urinate. Check traffic conditions in advance using navigation to avoid congested routes and minimize waiting times. Ensure to use the restroom before leaving, prior to entering the highway, and immediately upon arriving at any rest stops. When traveling with elderly individuals or children, prepare disposable urine bags and emergency toilets to address urgent situations.

While driving: Hydrate scientifically to avoid both dehydration and a frequent need to urinate. It's a common misconception that refraining from drinking water will prevent restroom stops. However, dehydration concentrates urine and increases the likelihood of kidney stones. Instead, drink warm water regularly to maintain normal metabolism and find the nearest service area as soon as you feel the urge to urinate.

3. Stay active even during long sitting periods: During traffic jams, take care to move your shoulders, neck, lower back, and legs to avoid pelvic congestion from prolonged sitting, which can exacerbate discomfort in the urinary system.

If you experience any concerning symptoms, do not ignore them! Seek immediate medical attention nearby.

During the Spring Festival travel rush, certain symptoms signal a "warning" from your body. Seek prompt medical help if you encounter the following: persistent abdominal distension with an inability to urinate, painful urination with a burning sensation, frequent and urgent urges, red or bloody urine that is cloudy with an unusual smell, and severe cramping pain in the lower back accompanied by nausea and vomiting. Dizziness, palpitations, elevated blood pressure, and chest discomfort also warrant immediate attention.

Timely intervention can swiftly address most issues, preventing minor problems from escalating into chronic conditions.

Experts would like to remind you.

Chief Physician Yang Jian from the Urology Department advises travelers that traffic jams may be temporary, but the damage to the bladder and urine-related infections and other complications from holding in urine can be lasting. Before traveling, be sure to empty your bladder, plan bathroom breaks throughout your journey to minimize the urge to hold it in, and drink an appropriate amount of water to avoid excessive accumulation, which can increase the need to urinate. Prioritize your health while on the road!

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